Note from Lead Writer Chuck Booth: Just to be fair on this whole John Gibbons hire, I am posting this article written by my fellow colleague/Baseball Writer at the MLB Reports) in order to give a different vantage point. Alex is a Blue Jays fan, so he has a passion for the team. His thoughts are of his own and while I may not agree with his opinion, that is okay. That is why we all have our own minds and are not all sheep! So here is his article (based on a question he answered on my previous piece this morning.)

The Blue Jays have not qualified for the Playoffs since they won Back to Back World Series in 1992 and 1993. Only Pittsburgh and Kansas City and Toronto have not made a playoffs appearance since the 1994 strike. Will 2013 be any different with OLD/NEW MGR John Gibbons?

I responded to our Lead Baseball Writers Message about not liking the Gibbons hiring in this article earlier today here.

It was, frankly, my initial reaction as well..I was not pleased when I first read this news about Gibbons. I think AA also realizes the consequences of spending his bosses money and then making a poor decision. If it does not pan out, it could mean his job…AA is not untouchable, even though there has been a demi-god status applied to him. Bosses don’t like when you squander their money…period.

But for some reason I am intrigued by this hiring. I was absolutely fed up with the Ricciardi/Gibbons regime, and thought that they should have been fired 2 years before they were. But Gibbons acted largely as the puppet of an egotistical, and nonsensical J.P. Ricciardi, which I can attribute to a lot the reasons he was criticized. There is no doubt, even though managers do not take any at bats themselves, they have a large impact on the team. Look at Bobby V and Boston.

I think that Gibbons was a stooge for JP Ricciardi and that is part of why he is so attractive to AA. AA actually stated during the hiring process he was looking for someone who could fall in line with his and the organization’s theory. Farrell was the opposite of that, a free thinking executive type, who also seemed disinterested in the organization as a whole. He didn’t take the job seriously.

“At first, I was not happy with the signing, having thought about it a little more, lets give it a shot.” Alex Mednick

During the frustrations that occurred within the organization during Gibbon’s previous tenure (trust me, I was frustrated), there were well publicized incidents of player-manager altercations between Hillenbrand, Lilly and Gibbons. I’m not all that sure, however, that Gibbons is much of a “hard-ass” or a tough guy to play for. He definitely is hard-nosed and passionate, but I think that the Hillenbrand scenario is something that happens more often that is reported, and the Lilly incident was an unfortunate instance that happened in a very public arena. All the while, Gibbons stayed very loyal to the organization and It is this same “hard-nosed” and “passionate” streak that the Blue Jays need. They are a young team, and still have a lot of young players developing to play a big role in their future. Clubhouse leader Jose Bautista (and Gibbons is a proponent of ensuring that a teammate, and not staff, leads the clubhouse), said that he wanted someone who could keep the players in line, but also allow them do relax and play their game. Gibbons seems like that kind of guy…It is hard to know for sure without being a part of the organization whether it is true, but I think Gibbons is a pretty good people person and those two infamous incidents have been blown out of proportion.

Brett Lawrie may clash with newly hired Manager John Gibbons, but that may not be so bad.

His easy-going side will allow the players to build their own culture and chemistry, but his passion will benefit guys like Lawrie who need to be told it’s okay to be “passionate”…For Lawrie that is truly a strength in his character and too many people are trying to give him a “labatomy”. Colby Rasmus needs the proverbial “kick in the ass” at times but is seemingly headed in the right direction to be all that he can be. I loved watching Gibbons argue with umpires, and the pitchers and players will feel that their skipper has their back. These are all things that are necessary for a team to win.

I really think that Gibbons has the potential to be the right fit for this team…after reconsidering. I think that with the raised expectations, if they fail, he will look horrible but it is unlikely to be largely due to the manager. If the team does mesh well, I think Gibbons could be an added asset to their success. More than anything, the coaches that AA and Gibbons hire are going to shape and have an effect on this team more so than anything Gibbons will do…it’s about the atmosphere in the clubhouse more than the occasional miscall from the dugout (all managers make them). And Gibbons is actually very good at managing a bullpen, that much has to be recognized…I will say, that I hope we don’t see too many of his crazy lineups being switched around all the time, although we do have a very versatile lineup this year with switch hitters and utility players. Maybe he will find just the right equation and stick with it! Hopefully he will also really put the running game into play…he is a national league guy, so he plays that kind of game (in his last term we saw lots of guys running who shouldn’t have…ahem, Bengie Molina)!

This team will be a lot of fun to watch play hit-and-run baseball. We also had a stellar defense during his last term that he cherished, and now, we have that once again…Jose Reyes and Brett Lawrie on the left side of the infield?…that’s going to be nice for our groundball pitchers (Morrow/Romero/Happ)…and an outfield of Cabrera, Rasmus and Bautista?…we have a great defense for a manager who knows how to match up bullpen arms with opposing hitters.

More of the success of this team has to do with the direction that AA steers the ship than Gibbons, because ultimately I think we can expect Gibbons to be a puppet once again (to a certain degree). If we hear Gibbons mumbling lots of “uh, you know, it’s a long season things will work out”…we will know that an ultimatum needs to be reached sooner than later.

Alex Anthopoulos has fixed a lot of the problems that J.P. Ricciardi left him with. Now, he has hired a man who Ricciardi fired. If Gibbons works out, he will look like a genius. If he doesn’t work out, it may cost him his job. At least AA puts all of chips into the middle of the table!

*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com ***

Alex Mednick is a Baseball Writer and Analyst with MLB Reports. He has both played and followed the game extensively his entire life. Alex grew up in New Haven, Connecticut—right in the crossroads of Red Sox Nation and The Yankee Empire. Somehow, he dodged the bullet of joining the war between these two teams, and a love affair between the Toronto Blue Jays and Alex formed. Growing up in Connecticut, Alex Mednick idolized Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar. When he was 19 he moved to Saint Petersburg, Florida. Here he attended Eckerd College and continued fulfilling his love for baseball. Tropicana Field was 5 minutes from his apartment, and there were 5 spring training camps within an hour drive. Alex graduated from Eckerd in 2010 with a B.S. in International Business and dual minors in Spanish and Management. Most importantly, he met his amazing wife in college, and the two now reside in Stuart, Florida.

Please e-mail us at: mlbreports@gmail.com with any questions and feedback. You can follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. To subscribe to our website and have the Daily Reports sent directly to your inbox, click here and follow the link at the top of our homepage.

I believe to recyle Joe Gibbons is a Majorv mistake,He failed the first time around whybwould you want him to manage again.I definitely can’t see the logic in this move.I compare this hiring to the situation in Miami last season itit wasn’t a good choice when Miami Hired , Ozzie Gullen he was hired for all . the wrong reasons and the result was terrible .In my View this is without a doubt a Dumb move by the Bluejays .All the good that was done in the Big trade now goes down the Drain I believe who ever had the final word on hiring the manger should lose his job when Gibbons and the Bluejays Fail there is little Doubt in my mind this is going to happen I can’t begin to verbalize what a poor move this is .Basically most people gave the Blue jays a pass when Farrell left for Boston and there was no manger .However wasn’t one of those people .I didnt understand the thinking then and now this makes it harder to comphend Prior to the manger being selected the word out was They The Toronto Org wanted a experienced manger There wasnt a lack of Candidates in fact there manynchoices better than thevone they made.It’s my view that all Teams no matter how many stars they have need to have a Big time Leader as mangerWhen the Yankees were winning the Championship every year they had many Great Players but the Leader in the Clubhouse wasvJoe Torre and his input keep everything togetherband that’s why he was so sucessful as were the Yankees .All this talk about The Blue Jays being the Beast of East in 2013. Just went down and no games havevbeen played yet .If I was the Yankees Tampa Baltimore. even Boston I would relax and play a wait see game .However for the players who are coming from Miami This more likely will be a replay of 2012 a definite nightmare .It sure isnt going to be good you can take that to the Bank

Posting 2 –Regarding The Choice of Gibbsons as manger of the Bluejays–Over the ladt couple of days I have tried to reflect on this choice in order to be fair about it My view hasn’t changed however still cant understand the thinking that went into this decision it was bad enough that the Trade was made without a manger .The choice is another thing as a Big Baseball fan and follower this move in my view goes down as one worst in Baseball History. I realize what is done can’t be reversed right now but believe me when tell you this isn’t going to work and the Blue Jays will realize this in opinion byThe Allstar Break when they will bring in a veteran respected manger However it will be too late to save the season One of things wevall know that it’s difficult for Big decision makers to admit they made a mistake EG Bobby Valentine & Ozzie Gullen they both were poor decisions and were made for the wrong reasons IIn my opinion you spent all kinds of money on some good players and then you bring in a manger Who more likely couldn’t be successful in the Little league.I know that he needs now to have a chance to prove all of us wrong but never should havevhappened in the first place .This will be s disaster samiliar to the Boston&Miam situation perhaps worse.Because both Valentine & Gullen had decent track records prior to there failures in Boston & Miami

Chuck Booth’s 219 MLB Game 30 Parks Road Trip In 2015

2015 Full Year Road Trip Stats

Trip Stats: Miles Driven (0) Miles Air (0) Total Miles (0) In Altuves () $ Spent So Far ($7778) Hot Dogs Eaten (0) Energy Drinks Consumed (0) Subs Eaten (0) Chilli's (0) # Of Days On the Road (0) Games Seen (0) Games Left (219) Days remaining (183).

Sully posts a 20 Minute Podcast daily that is the most entertaining time you will spend online! He will do a brand new show 365 days a year, unless it is a leap year, then he will do another 1! Latest Show Right Underneath In The Next Widget Down - Thursday Oct.30, 2014) - 738th Consecutive Day With An Episode!

Madbum dominated. Affeldt was terrific. Gordon nearly tied it + Chevy Guy may have been staged

Chuck Booth’s 30 MLB Parks Trip World Record Page

In 2012, Chuck Booth attended a complete game in all 30 MLB Parks in just 23 calendar days, click the image of he and Larry Lucchino to read all about it.

The MLB BallPark Pass-Port Is A Must Purchase For Those Planning To See All 30

The Ballpark Passport is quickly becoming the favorite item among Ballpark Chasers, to chronicle their life goal to see all 30 Major League Parks. You are able to receive the stamps kit for a small additional price. At around $75 all combined, it will contain one of the biggest memento's ever for a Ballpark Chaser's best bucket list wish ever#Greatgiftidea

The Sully Baseball ‘In Memoriam” Video To MLB Players Who Have Recently Passed

The Last No – Hitter For Each MLB Franchise

The Last No - Hitter For Each Franchise - Updated every time there is a new no - hitter - click picture

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